The proposal itself [2]sounds more like a clever way to get Rand Paul-type libertarians to donate to a local government budget than a viable way to protect a town from federal drones. According to the draft of the proposed ordinance, residents of Deer Trail, Colorado could pay $25 a year for a drone hunting permit. And there’s a $100 reward for any successful downed drone, providing the unmanned aerial vehicle’s “markings and configuration are consistent with those used on any similar craft known to be owned or operated by the United States federal government.”

The man behind the Deer Trail proposal, who seems to be one of the few people in the town taking it seriously, knows the idea is against the law, but doesn’t really care. Phillip Steel, speaking to CNN[3], said “Is it illegal? Of course it is. But it’s also illegal to spy on American citizens…If they fly in town, we will shoot them down.”

The FAA, too, is taking the idea very, very seriously, it seems. The agency, which is already behind schedule to meet a 2015 deadline for new regulations governing drone use in the U.S., released a statement reminding Deer Trail that the federal agency is responsible for regulating the air space over the town, and indicating that they’d enforce existing laws to punish any enterprising drone hunters in Colorado or anywhere else. Here’s the AP,[4] quoting from the statement:

A drone “hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air,” the statement said. “Shooting at an unmanned aircraft could result in criminal or civil liability, just as would firing at a manned airplane.”

[5] Town To Issue Licenses and Bounties To Shoot Down Drones: “They Fly In Town, They Get Shot Down” *Video*: http://www.prisonplanet.com/town-to-issue-licenses-and-bounties-to-shoot-down-drones-they-fly-in-town-they-get-shot-down-video.html

[7] Poll: Almost Half Of Americans Believe They Have Right To Shoot Down Government Spy Drones: http://www.prisonplanet.com/poll-almost-half-of-americans-believe-they-have-right-to-shoot-down-government-spy-drones.html